U.S. patent application number 13/438187 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-04 for tablet terminal and portable terminal, and method for achieving phone call function of tablet terminal using portable terminal.
This patent application is currently assigned to Electronics and Telecommunictions Research Institute. Invention is credited to Joon Young JUNG, Jeun Woo Lee.
Application Number | 20120252505 13/438187 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46927930 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120252505 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JUNG; Joon Young ; et
al. |
October 4, 2012 |
TABLET TERMINAL AND PORTABLE TERMINAL, AND METHOD FOR ACHIEVING
PHONE CALL FUNCTION OF TABLET TERMINAL USING PORTABLE TERMINAL
Abstract
A method provides achieving a phone call function of a tablet
terminal using a portable terminal. The method includes performing
synchronization with the portable terminal when the tablet terminal
receives a request for a call connection from a wireless network.
After making the call connection to the wireless network, the
tablet terminal transmit voice signals received from the wireless
network to the portable terminal and transmit voice signals
generated by the portable terminal to the wireless network. Upon
terminating the call connection with the wireless network, the
tablet terminal terminates the communication with the portable
terminal.
Inventors: |
JUNG; Joon Young; (Daejeon,
KR) ; Lee; Jeun Woo; (Daejeon, KR) |
Assignee: |
Electronics and Telecommunictions
Research Institute
Daejeon
KR
|
Family ID: |
46927930 |
Appl. No.: |
13/438187 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/458 ;
455/41.2; 455/556.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 2250/04 20130101;
H04M 2250/02 20130101; H04W 88/04 20130101; H04W 76/14 20180201;
H04M 1/7253 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/458 ;
455/556.1; 455/41.2 |
International
Class: |
H04W 56/00 20090101
H04W056/00; H04B 7/00 20060101 H04B007/00; H04W 88/02 20090101
H04W088/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 4, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0030757 |
Claims
1. A tablet terminal comprising: a wireless communication module
configured to communicated with a wireless network; a communication
module configured to perform communication with a portable
terminal; a synchronization module configured to perform
synchronization with the portable terminal when a request for a
call connection is received from the wireless network through the
wireless communication module; and a voice transmission module
configured to transmit voice signals provided from the wireless
network to the portable terminal and transmit voice signals
generated by the portable terminal to the wireless network through
the wireless communication module.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module
performs communication with the portable terminal via short-range
communication.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tablet terminal further
includes a data transmission module configured to transmit data
provided from the wireless network to the portable terminal and
sending data received from the portable terminal to the wireless
network through the wireless communication module.
4. A portable terminal comprising: a communication module
configured to perform communication with a tablet terminal; a
synchronization module configured to perform synchronization with
the tablet terminal when a request for a call connection is
received from a wireless network through the tablet terminal; and a
voice transmission module configured to transmit voice signals
generated by the portable terminal to the wireless network through
the tablet terminal and transmit voice signals provided from the
wireless network through the tablet terminal to a user interface
for outputting thereof.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the communication module
performs communication with the tablet terminal via short-range
communication.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the portable terminal further
includes a data transmission module configured to transmit data
that is inputted via the user interface to the wireless network
through the tablet terminal and transmit data received from the
wireless network through the tablet terminal to the user
interface.
7. A method of achieving a phone call function of a tablet terminal
using a portable terminal, the method comprising: when the tablet
terminal receives a request for a call connection from a wireless
network, performing synchronization with the portable terminal;
after making the call connection to the wireless network,
transmitting voice signals received from the wireless network
through the tablet terminal to the portable terminal and
transmitting voice signals generated by the portable terminal to
the wireless network through the tablet terminal; and upon
terminating the call connection with the wireless network,
terminating the communication with the portable terminal.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said terminating the
communication with the portable terminal includes; receiving a call
termination message from the portable terminal; receiving the call
termination message, terminating the call connection with the
wireless network; and terminating the communication of the tablet
terminal with the portable terminal.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein said terminating the
communication with the portable terminal includes; receiving a
request for a call connection termination from the wireless
network; and terminating the call connection of the tablet terminal
with the wireless network; transmitting a call termination message
to the portable terminal; and terminating the communication of the
tablet terminal with the portable terminal.
10. A method of achieving a phone call function of a tablet
terminal using a portable terminal, the method comprising:
determining whether or not a request for a call connection is
received from the portable terminal; when the call connection
request is received from the portable terminal, requesting for a
call connection with a wireless network through the tablet
terminal; after making the call connection of the tablet terminal
with the wireless network, transmitting voice signals generated by
the portable terminal to the wireless network through the tablet
terminal and transmitting voice signals received from the wireless
network to the portable terminal; and upon terminating the call
connection of the tablet terminal with the wireless network,
terminating the communication with the portable terminal.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said terminating the
communication with the portable terminal includes; receiving a call
termination message from the portable terminal; and upon receiving
the call termination message, terminating the call connection of
the tablet terminal with the wireless network; and terminating the
communication of the tablet terminal with the portable
terminal.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said terminating the
communication with the portable terminal includes: receiving a
request for a call connection termination request from the wireless
network through the tablet terminal; terminating the call
connection of the tablet terminal with the wireless network;
transmitting a call termination message to the portable terminal;
and terminating the communication of the tablet terminal with the
portable terminal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119
and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0030757
(filed on Apr. 4, 2011), which is hereby incorporated by reference
in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a tablet terminal and a
portable terminal, and more particularly, to a tablet terminal and
a portable terminal linked via short-range communication, with a
capability of providing a phone call function of the tablet
terminal using the portable terminal, and method of providing a
phone call function of the tablet terminal using the portable
terminal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] With the development of mobile communication terminals, a
variety of services, in addition to a phone call function, are
provided by installing a variety of application soft-wares, as well
as offering the data communication function. For example, the
mobile communication terminals may include smart-phones.
[0004] Smart-phones are convenient to use the phone call function,
but are inconvenient to browse the Internet or the like because of
their small screen sizes. Due to this reason, large-size tablet
terminals or tablet PCs are being developed and come into use.
[0005] In contrast, the tablet terminals are convenient to browse
the internet, read e-books or the like because their screen is
larger than those of smart-phones, but inconvenient for use as a
mobile phone because of their large size and heavy weight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In view of the above, the present invention provides a
tablet terminal and a portable terminal linked via short-range
communication, with a capability of providing a phone call function
of the tablet terminal using the portable terminal.
[0007] Further, the present invention provides a method of
providing a phone call function of the tablet terminal using the
portable terminal.
[0008] The objects of the present invention are limited thereto,
but other objects that are not described above will be apparently
understood by those skilled in the art from the following
description.
[0009] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a tablet terminal including:
[0010] a wireless communication module configured to communicated
with a wireless network;
[0011] a communication module configured to perform communication
with a portable terminal;
[0012] a synchronization module configured to perform
synchronization with the portable terminal when a request for a
call connection is received from the wireless network through the
wireless communication module; and
[0013] a voice transmission module configured to transmit voice
signals provided from the wireless network to the portable terminal
and transmit voice signals generated by the portable terminal to
the wireless network through the wireless communication module.
[0014] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a portable terminal including:
[0015] a communication module configured to perform communication
with a tablet terminal;
[0016] a synchronization module configured to perform
synchronization with the tablet terminal when a request for a call
connection is received from a wireless network through the tablet
terminal; and
[0017] a voice transmission module configured to transmit voice
signals generated by the portable terminal to the wireless network
through the tablet terminal and transmit voice signals provided
from the wireless network through the tablet terminal to a user
interface for outputting thereof.
[0018] In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method of achieving a phone call function of a
tablet terminal using a portable terminal, the method
including:
[0019] when the tablet terminal receives a request for a call
connection from a wireless network, performing synchronization with
the portable terminal;
[0020] after making the call connection to the wireless network,
transmitting voice signals received from the wireless network
through the tablet terminal to the portable terminal and
transmitting voice signals generated by the portable terminal to
the wireless network through the tablet terminal; and
[0021] upon terminating the call connection with the wireless
network, terminating the communication with the portable
terminal.
[0022] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method of achieving a phone call function of a
tablet terminal using a portable terminal, the method
including:
[0023] when the call connection request is received from the
portable terminal, requesting for a call connection with a wireless
network through the tablet terminal;
[0024] after making the call connection of the tablet terminal with
the wireless network, transmitting voice signals generated by the
portable terminal to the wireless network through the tablet
terminal and transmitting voice signals received from the wireless
network to the portable terminal; and
[0025] upon terminating the call connection of the tablet terminal
with the wireless network, terminating the communication with the
portable terminal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The above and other objects and features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description of
embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system of achieving
a phone call function of a tablet terminal using a portable
terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0028] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for achieving a
phone call function of a tablet terminal using a portable terminal
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0029] The advantages and features of the present invention and
methods of accomplishing these advantages and features will be
clearly understood from the following description of various
embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
However, the present invention is not limited to the following
description and is intended to cover alternatives, modifications,
and equivalents that may be included within the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined in the appended claims. It should be noted
that the present description of the embodiments is provided to
describe and explain, but not limit the invention.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system of achieving
a phone call function of a tablet terminal using a portable
terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention
[0031] The system of the embodiment includes a tablet terminal 100
and a portable terminal 200. The tablet terminal 100, for example,
may be a tablet PC that allows a user to receive a voice call
service and wireless Internet service through a wireless network
300. The wireless network 300, for example, may include the
Internet, Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), 3G or 4G mobile communication
networks. The tablet terminal 100 includes a wireless communication
module 110, a short-range communication module 118, a
synchronization module 112, a voice transmission module 114, and a
data transmission module 116.
[0032] The wireless communication module 110 may be connected to
the wireless network 300 and provide services such as a voice call
service, wireless Internet service and the like to the tablet
terminal 100 through the wireless network 300.
[0033] The short-range communication module 118 performs
communication with the portable terminal 200 via a short-range
network 310 to make a linkage between the tablet terminal 100 and
the portable terminal 200. The short-range communication, for
example, may include Bluetooth, ZigBee, WLAN (Wireless Local Area
Network), infrared communication, optical wireless communication
using a laser, and the like.
[0034] A plurality of information is set up in the short-range
communication module 118 in advance. The information may include a
selection for using portable terminal function indicating that
using the portable terminal function is enabled in the tablet
terminal 100 and the portable terminal 200, information for an
automatic linkage of the tablet terminal 100 and the portable
terminal 200, and key values for encrypting data between the tablet
terminal 100 and the portable terminal 200. When the other party on
the wireless network 300 tries to a call connection with the tablet
terminal 100, the short-range communication module 118 links the
tablet terminal 100 and the portable terminal 200 based on the
set-up information so that a voice communication between the other
party and the user of the tablet terminal 100 can be made through
the use of the portable terminal 200.
[0035] The synchronization module 112 is used for synchronization
between the tablet terminal 100 and the portable terminal 200. The
synchronization module 112 generates synchronization data, and then
transmits it to the portable terminal 200 through the short-range
communication module 118 to synchronize the portable terminal 200
with the tablet terminal 100.
[0036] The voice transmission module 114 receives voice signals of
the other party on the wireless network 300 to which the call
connection is made through the wireless communication module 110
and transmits the received voice signals to the portable terminal
200. Further, the voice transmission module 114 transmits voice
signals provided from the portable terminal 200 owned by the user
to the other party through the wireless communication module
110.
[0037] The data transmission module 116 may be connected to the
wireless network 300 through the wireless communication module 110
to transmit data received by the wireless communication module 110
from the wireless network 300 to the portable terminal 200 and
transmit data received from the portable terminal 200 to the
wireless network 300 through the wireless communication module 110.
As used herein, the data may be text messages, such as SMS and MMS,
and information received via the wireless network 300 or the
portable terminal 200.
[0038] Meanwhile, the portable terminal 200 includes a short-range
communication module 210, a synchronization module 212, a voice
transmission module 214, a data transmission module 216, and a user
interface 218. The portable terminal 200 may be a dummy terminal
having a small size by which the user of the tablet terminal 100
makes a phone call so that the inconvenient due to a large size and
heavy weight of the tablet terminal 100 can be mitigate.
[0039] The short-range communication module 210 is for performing
communication with the short-range communication module 118 of the
tablet terminal 100 via the short-range network 310.
[0040] During communication with the tablet terminal 100, the
synchronization module 212 generates synchronization data, and then
transmits the synchronization data to the tablet terminal 100
through the short-range communication module 210. The
synchronization data allows that the tablet terminal 100 is
synchronized with the portable terminal 200.
[0041] The voice transmission module 214 receives the voice signals
from the tablet terminal 100 to output the voice signals through
the user interface 218. Further, the voice transmission module
provides the voice signals generated by the user interface 218 to
the tablet terminal 100 through the short-range communication
module 210.
[0042] The data transmission module 216 receives data that is
provided from the tablet terminal 100. Further, the data
transmission module 216 provides data that is inputted via the user
interface 218 to the tablet terminal 100.
[0043] The user interface 218 is used for inputting and outputting
the voice signals, texts, messages, and other various types of
data. For example, the user interface 218 may include a speaker, a
microphone, a keypad, a display device, and so on. More
specifically, voice signals that are received from the tablet
terminal 100 may be outputted to the speaker, and the voice signals
that are inputted through the microphone may be transmitted to the
tablet terminal 100 through the voice transmission module 214.
Further, data that is inputted through the keypad may be
transmitted to the tablet terminal 100 through the data
transmission module 216, and data that is received through the data
transmission module 216 may be displayed on the display device.
[0044] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for achieving a
phone call function of a tablet terminal using a portable terminal
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 2, when the tablet terminal 100 receives a
request for a call connection from the other party on the wireless
network 300 in step S200, the tablet terminal 100 starts
communication with the short-range communication module 210 of the
portable terminal 200 based on information set up in the
short-range communication module 118. During the communication, the
tablet terminal 100 transmits synchronization data to the portable
terminal 200 and receives synchronization data generated in the
synchronization module 212 of the portable terminal 200, thereby
achieving synchronization between the portable terminal 200 and the
tablet terminal 100 in step S202.
[0046] Next, the user of the tablet terminal 100 may respond to the
call connection request by the use of the portable terminal 200,
and a call connection is made between the telephone of the caller
and the portable terminal linked with the tablet terminal 100 in
step S204. Accordingly, voice signals are transmitted and received
between the telephone of the caller and the portable terminal
linked with the tablet terminal 100. More particularly, when voice
signals of the other party is received by the tablet terminal 100,
the tablet terminal 100 transmits the voice signals to the portable
terminal 200 through the voice transmission module 114 and the
voice transmission module 214 of the portable terminal 200 then
sends the voice signals to the user interface 218, e.g., a speaker
for outputting the voice signals.
[0047] In response to the voice signals from the other party, voice
signals of the user may be generated by the user interface 218. The
voice signals of the user are then transmitted to the tablet
terminal 100.
[0048] The voice transmission module 114 of the tablet terminal 100
receives the voice signals from the portable terminal 200 and
transmits the received voice signals to the other party on the
wireless network 300, thereby achieving a voice call service
between the other party and the user through the portable terminal
200 in step S206. That is, after the voice signals of the other
party are received through the tablet terminal 100, the voice
signals of the other party are outputted through the user interface
218 of the portable terminal 200, and the voice signals that are
generated via the user interface 218 of the portable terminal 200
are transmitted to the other party through the tablet terminal
100.
[0049] A method for a call termination in step S208 may be
performed as follows.
[0050] First, in case where the portable terminal 200 makes the
call termination, the portable terminal 200 generates a call
termination message in step S210, and then provides it to the
tablet terminal 100 through the synchronization module 212 in step
S212. Accordingly, the tablet terminal 100 terminates the call
connection with the caller via the short-range communication module
110 in step S214.
[0051] On the other hand, in case where the tablet terminal 100
makes the call termination, the tablet terminal 100 terminates the
call connection with the caller's terminal which is made through
the wireless communication module 110 in step S216, creates a call
termination message in step S218, and then provides call
termination message to the portable terminal 200 through the
synchronization module 112 in step S220. Accordingly, the call
connection is terminated between the tablet terminal 100 and the
portable terminal 200 while maintaining the linkage
therebetween.
[0052] The embodiment of the present invention may also conduct a
request for a call connection from the portable terminal 200 as
follows.
[0053] First of all, the tablet terminal 100 determines whether or
not a request for a call connection is received from the portable
terminal 200. When the call connection request is received from the
portable terminal 200, the tablet terminal 100 requests the call
connection with a wireless network 300. After making the call
connection with the wireless network 300, the tablet terminal 100
transmits voice signals generated by the portable terminal 200 to
the wireless network 300 and transmitting voice signals received
from the wireless network 300 to the portable terminal 200.
Thereafter, upon terminating the call connection with the wireless
network 300, the tablet terminal 100 terminates the communication
with the portable terminal 200.
[0054] As set for the above, in accordance with the embodiments of
the present invention, by providing the phone function of the
tablet terminal by means of the portable terminal via communication
between the tablet terminal and the portable terminal, it is
possible to implement the phone function, which is inconvenient to
use because of the weight and size of the tablet terminal, by the
use of the portable terminal, and do an internet search, read
e-books, or the like on a relatively large screen by the direct use
of the tablet terminal, thereby increasing user convenience.
[0055] While embodiments have been shown and described, they are
not limited thereto. It will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes and modifications may be made without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
following claims.
* * * * *